Volume 3 Issue 2

February 2013

Visionary Youth Great Nation

Words of My Creator

The Story of the Richest Man The Worst of the False Tales
Islamic Mannerism

Quran Quiz Humor of the Scholars The Hijab Diaries:

Going Back to School

Get Hooked! Dry Ice Bubble Train Word Search Puzzle

Poetry Corner Puzzle Science for Kids

Giving Greetings of Peace

FATS Food: A Bio-Health Hazard?

Rupees 50

MyVision Team
Shafiq ur Rahman Asif Khurshid Raja Zia ul Haq Abdul Jabbar Bilal Mansoor Salim Zofran Elahi Executive Editor Editor Senior Editor Advisors

Contact Information Suite #33, 2nd Floor, Rose-1 Plaza, I-8 Markaz, Islamabad44000, Pakistan. Website: http://www.myvision.pk Email: editor@myvision.pk

Contribute Your Articles

MyVision is a magazine for young Muslims. If you are young, or if you would like to write for kids and teenagers, we welcome articles on topics that are generally related to: Authentic guidance from the Quran and Sunnah. Islamic heros and personalities. How youth should live their lives righteously. If you or someone at your school is interested in contributing articles, we request that the content be: Relevant Thought-provoking Well-presented Non-promotional Contributing Length Featured articles should be around 600-words. The maximum length for all other submissions is 300-words. Submitting Articles Authors should carefully review their text before submitting the final version of the articles as its often difficult to make changes during production stages. Please supply full contact details of the author; like name, school, address, phone, e-mail, etc. Articles should reach us by the 15th of every month of inclusion in the subsequent months issue. Please e-mail your articles to: editor@myvision.pk. Copyright 2013 MyVision Magazine. All rights reserved.

From the Editor

Dear Readers As-Salamu Alaikum waRahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu, Many Muslims believe that they will enter Paradise just because they were born as a Muslims. There are many people who say, Well watch movies, listen to songs, play, party, and enjoy but we will also pray five-times a day, well fast Ramadan, well recite Quran and these good deeds will balance the sins we are doing. Did we ever think about why the companions of the Prophet (PBUH), and even the al-Ashara al-Mubasharin bi-l-Janna, who were promised Paradise by the Prophet (PBUH), cried during their prayers and whenever they remembered Paradise or Hell-Fire? Why do the Imams of Muslims cry for Paradise? Why do Islamic scholars, the Imams of al-Masjid al-Haram and al-Masjid an-Nabawi cry while in prayer? They are doing good deeds. Most of them are doing only good deeds. But still they cry! Because the facts is, even if we do good deeds, they should be acceptable to Allaah to be of any benefit to us. We need to ask ourselves some questions. Are we doing our duties sincerely, our duties as a Muslim - as a true Muslim? We know Quran is Allaahs Word, did we ever take the time to understand what Allaah wants us to know? Does Allaah want us to be Muslims in words only and will He enter us into Paradise? We need to learn more about our duties as a Muslim. We need to live like true Muslims, and take our guidance from the Quran and the Sunnah about our code of life. Keeping in mind that a Muslim is a person who submits his will to Allaah, The Almighty. Think about it, dont procrastinate, because every soul has to taste death soon. And when that happens, we will lose the opportunity to think and the ability to decide. May Allaah guide us to His Path, and may He forgive us our sins. Allaah is the indeed the Most Forgiving. Aameen! Very truly yours, Asif Khurshid

MyVision February 2013

Words of My Creator

The Story of the Richest Man

By Abdul Jabbar Bilal
here have been many personalities in history of this world who were bestowed with so much wealth, that it was impossible to even count all of it. One such ultra-rich person was called Qarun. Allaah had given him so many treasures that he had to assemble a group of strong men just to carry the keys for them. And these strong men found it difficult to carry the keys, even though it is reported that the keys were actually made of leather. arun was not only a misguided polytheist, but because of his immense wealth, he had become proud and arrogant. Believing, pious people from his clan advised him not to be so, because Allaah does not approve of these attributes in His servants. Pride and arrogance are tantamount to being transgressive in the land of Allaah, they warned him. hey also urged him to spend, from what Allaah had given him, in ways that are favored by Allaah, so that he could earn a great reward and position in the Hereafter with Him. They reminded him that Allaah has given mankind guidance on spending their riches, putting limits on where they could spend, and in how much quantities. They also reminded him that he had possession of his treasures for only a limited time, and that when the time was up, he would have to give everything, and leave this life empty-handed. So it was better for him to spend his money in charity and give favors to the needy, the same way Allaah had favored him over many people. ut instead of heeding this advice, and repenting from his mistakes, he retorted by saying that whatever he had been given had been due to his cleverness and hard-work, and that was why Allaah had chosen him from among all the people to give him these treasures. The glitter and glamour of Qaruns wealth had divided the people into two groups. One group envied Qarun for his wealth, and measured his riches by worldly standards. They considered him lucky and they were impressed by his good-fortune. They wished that they also had the same wealth. hen there was another group who had realized the truth about worldly possessions. They considered reward and bounties from Allaah to be everything for people who believed in Him and did good deeds. They had realized that in order to earn Allaahs favors, they had to be steadfast in their deeds, and that they needed to be patient whenever inflicted with hunger, poverty and difficulties.

Q T B

T T

hen on one day, Qarun came out with an elaborate entourage, all glitter and grandeur So, what was the end to Qaruns story? Dont forget to look it up in the next issue!

[This story is in Quran, chapter al-Qasas, verses 76-83]

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Ponder This

The biggest room in our lives is the room for improvement. Let us decorate it with beautiful character and righteous actions.

The Worst of False Tales!

By Abu Muhammad Nadir

Beware Folks!

This is about the worst of false tales. How do these words echo in our minds? The worst? What could be the worst of false tales? Of all the false tales, of everything false we can ever think of, from the stories of the false gods and goddesses some of the religions of the world created, from all the fairy tales we have ever heard soothing our novice ears in our childhood, from everything bad we hear from the mouth of a liar, and how grave is the sin of lying? Allaah says: They only invent falsehood who do not believe in the verses of Allaah, and it is those who are the liars. [An-Nahl 16:105] Also: Surely Allaah does not guide him aright who is a liar, ungrateful. [Az-Zumar 39:3] It can be understood from the verses of the Quran that a liar calls for Divine curse and invites the anger of Allaah. For example: and pray for the curse of Allaah on the liars. [Ali-Imran 3:61] And also: the curse of Allaah be on him if he is one of the liars. [An-Nur 24:8] Prophet (PBUH) said: The signs of the hypocrite are three: when he speaks, he lies; when he makes a promise, he breaks it; and when he is entrusted with something, he betrays that trust. [Sahih al-Bukhari 33, Sahih al-Muslim 59] On an another occasion, the Prophet (PBUH) was asked: Can the believer be a coward? He said, Yes. He was asked, Can the believer be a miser? He said, Yes. He was asked, Can the believer be a liar? He said, No. [Mawwata Imam Malik Book 56, Chapter 7, Hadith 19] A believer cannot be a lair. Even a small lie is not acceptable, even if it is just used for having fun.

Worst of False Tales?

What could it be? It must be the thing Id be cautious of, every moment of the day or shouldnt I? Its the worst of false tales after all! The worst of every false utterance I can hear Our beloved Prophet (PBUH) said: Beware of suspicion, for suspicion is the worst of false tales; and do not look for others faults and do not spy, and do not be jealous of one another, and do not desert (cut your relation with) one another, and do not hate one another; and O Allaahs worshipers! Be brothers (as Allaah has ordered you)! [Sahih al-Bukhari Vol. 8 No. 90]

Suspicion

Oh! Suspicion, the worst of false tales? Thats strange, isnt it? Do I suspect my Muslim brothers and sisters of things I havent seen them doing? The things I have never heard from them as they be saying it actually. Do I follow popular verdict about my Muslim brothers and sisters? Do I build opinion on non-concrete hypothesis and then nurture it into a news, propagating it even further? I find myself guilty and my conscious blames me for one thing or the other.

The Worst of False Tales!

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There was a time when the leader of the hypocrites, Abdullah bin Ubbai and his followers the wicked and the cursed, started propaganda about Ayesha (RA), mother of us believers, accusing her of something she never did. The rumor spread like a fire, engulfing innocent hearts of some of the pious companions of the Prophet (PBUH) as well. Many people either become suspicious or kept themselves silent and neutral. It was a difficult time for the believers, especially for our beloved Prophet (PBUH) and his pious family.

The Reply from Allaah

Allaah replied to this situation with glory and wrath, and a question piercing the hearts, demanding soul searching from every believer: Indeed, those who came with falsehood are a group among you. Do not think it bad for you; rather it is good for you. For every person among them is what (punishment) he has earned from the sin, and he who took upon himself the greater portion thereof, for him is a great punishment. Followed by: Why, when you heard it, did not the believing men and believing women think good of one another and say, This is an obvious falsehood. Then demanding an intelligent and just investigation of the matter and the verdict: Why did they (who slandered) not produce for it four witnesses? And when they did not produce the witnesses, then it is they, in the sight of Allaah, who are the liars. Then, emphasizing the magnitude of what had been done: And if it had not been for the favor of Allaah upon you and His mercy in this world and the Hereafter, you would have been touched for that (lie) in which you were involved by a great punishment. Then asking them as to why have they even been talking about it if they did not know even a bit of it, and building opinion on heresay: When you received it with your tongues and said with your mouths that of which you had no knowledge and thought it was insignificant while it was, in the sight of Allaah, tremendous. And asking them as to why didnt they keep a good thought of the person slandered, and rejected the lie imposed: And why, when you heard it, did you not say, It is not for us to speak of this. Exalted are You, (O Allaah); this is a great slander?

Warning!

Allaah warns them and us of the likes of it: Allaah warns you against returning to the likes of this (conduct), ever, if you should be believers. [Surah an-Nur 24:11-17] Allaahu Akbar! How clear are the verses of the Quran, teaching us how to react to heresay and rumors about our Muslim brothers and sisters. In another place in the Quran, Allaah mentions suspicion as follows: O you who have believed, avoid much (negative) suspicion. Indeed, some suspicion is sin. And do not spy or backbite each other. Would one of you like to eat the flesh of his brother when dead? You would detest it. And fear Allaah; indeed, Allaah is accepting of repentance and merciful. [Surah al-Hujurat 49:12]

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Allaah advises us to avoid much assumption as it leads to sin. Allaah says: Successful indeed are the believers. Those who offer their prayers with all solemnity and full submissiveness. And those who turn away from evil vain talk. [Surah Muminun: 1-3] Indeed it is the quality of believers that they refrain from idle talk and it reflects in their character. Similar lesson is embodied in the gem-etched words of our Prophet Muhammad (PBUH): It is enough for a person to be a liar that he transmits whatever he hears. [Sahih Muslim 5, Sunan Abu Dawood 4992]

O friend, the cloth from which your burial shroud will be cut may have already reached the market and yet you remain unaware! Imam al-Ghazali

Reflect

Allaah teaches us how to distinguish between real news and heresay: O you who have believed, if there comes to you an evil-doer with information, investigate, lest you harm a people out of ignorance and become, over what you have done, regretful. [Surah al-Hujurat 49:6]

Beautiful Caution

What a beautiful caution to the believers indeed. By following the above mentioned commandment, we can distinguish easily between credible information and rumor. What about TV news channels and their information? What about newspapers? Do we believe and propagate every news we hear on the TV channels and whatever we read in the newspapers, without even caring about the character of the person who prepares and presents such news? The Prophet (PBUH) said: I do not like to speak of anyones faults even if I should receive such and such. [At-Tirmidhi 1256]

When Muadh ibn Jabal (RA) asked the Prophet (PBUH) about that which would entitle him to enter Paradise and save him from the Hell-Fire, he (PBUH) mentioned the pillars of Islam and informed Muadh of the importance of the night prayers and of Jihaad. He (PBUH) then said: Should I not inform you of the sheet anchor of all this? And then took hold of his tongue and said, Exercise restraint on it. Muadh (RA) inquired, O Messenger of Allaah, will we be held responsible for what we say with it? Thereupon, the Messenger of Allaah (PBUH) said, Muadh, will anything else besides (irresponsible) talk cause the people to be thrown in the Hell-Fire upon their faces? [At-Tirmidhi and Riyaadh as-Saaliheen 2/1522] Allaahu Akbar! The best way to avoid the worst is to restrain our tongues for uttering something which could make good, precious deeds go in vain in an instant. And the best way to answer such a problem is with a sound mind, a heart enriched in the goodness and well-being of our Muslim brothers and sisters, and silence. Allaahs apostle (PBUH) has so rightly said about it: Whoever believes in Allaah and the Last Day should talk what is good or keep quiet [Sahih Al-Bukhari Vol. 8, Book 76,Hadith No. 482] And on another occasion: Each of you is the mirror of his brother, so if he sees any fault in him he should wipe it away. [At-Tirmidhi 1286] So instead of being suspicious upon our brothers and sisters and finding faults, we must try our best to guide them towards righteousness in a good, caring and non-humiliating way. May Allaah make us understand His beautiful Deen in its true spirit and make us follow the path of His perfect Messenger, the best of mankind (PBUH). Aameen!

My Tongue

The Worst of False Tales!

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Islamic Mannerism

Giving Peace:

W A T

Greetings of

hen Muslims greet one another, or enter their own or someone elses houses, they must give the greetings of peace, i.e. to say As-Salamu Alaikum. Allaah has said in the Quran: O you who believe! Enter not houses other than your own, until you have asked permission and greeted those in them, that is better for you, in order that you may remember. [Surah an-Nur 24:27]

nd, He has also said: When you enter the houses, greet one another with a greeting from Allaah (i.e. say: As-Salamu Alaikum) blessed and good. [Surah an-Nur 24:61] he Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said: The rights of a Muslim on another Muslim are six; If you meet a Muslim, then extend to him the greetings of peace [Sahih al-Muslim 2162] There are three ways in which these greetings can be extended: Best (30-good deeds): As-Salamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu (Peace as well as the mercy and blessings of Allaah be upon you). Second Best (20-good deeds): As-Salamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullah (Peace and the mercy of Allaah be upon you). Third Best (10-good deeds): As-Salamu Alaikum (Peace be upon you). [Derived from Sahih al-Bukhari in Adaab al-Mufrad 986, classed as Sahih by Sheikh al-Albaanee] t is sunnah to initiate the greeting and waajib to return it, as Allaah has stated in the Quran: "When you are greeted with a greeting, greet in return with what is better than it, or (at least) return it equally. Certainly, Allaah is Ever a Careful Account Taker of all things." [Surah an-Nisa 4:86]

As-salamu Alaikum
By Shazia K. Rahim

ccording to sunnah, when a person comes across a group of people, he/she should greet the group. Or, when a small group meets a larger group, the small group should initiate the greeting. It is also sunnah for the rider to greet the pedestrian, the pedestrian to greet the one who is seated, and for the young to greet the old. Similarly, it is sunnah for the one

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who is arriving to a gathering to initiate the salaam. f someone greets you with As-Salamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu, in order to respond with a better greeting, you should respond by saying Wa-Alaikum As-Salam wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu. It is not from the sunnah to add anything after wa Barakatuhu. If you are greeting a large gathering and are in doubt if people heard you, it is recommended that you repeat the salaam three times.

A A

s far as greeting People of the Book is concerned, we as Muslims are clearly prohibited to initiate the greetings of peace, i.e. salaam, to them. The Messenger of Allaah (PBUH), said: When [someone from] the People of the Book gives you greetings of peace, say Wa-Alaikum. [Sahih al-Bukhari 6258, Sahih al-Muslim 2163] man once went to the Prophet (PBUH), and said, Verily, my father sends you greetings of peace. The Prophet (PBUH), responded and said Peace be upon you and upon your father. [Abu Dawood 5231, classed as Hasan by Sheikh al-Albaanee]

n another occasion, a man once asked the Prophet (PBUH), Which Islam is best? The Prophet (PBUH) responded by saying: Feeding food [to others] and saying As-Salam both to those you know and to those you dont know. [Sahih alBukhari 12, Sahih al-Muslim 39] Let us revive a sunnah by extending the greeting of salaam to those we know and those we do not know.

Are you looking for something to relax your heart? Look no further. Allaah says in the Quran: Verily, in the remembrance of Allaah do hearts find rest. [22:77]

Think

Islamic Mannerism

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I am bored, can I have something to eat?, said Arslan. His mother looked at him scornfully, What does boredom have to do with food? If you want to have dinner, you will have to wait for half an hour, we will eat together when your father is here. As if Arslan had not even heard what his mother had just said, he continued, I am ordering something from the Golden Arch Burgers. Can I? Arslans mother could see the familiar shine in his anticipatory eyes which she knew very well. She knew the addiction her son had developed for fast food. If it was not burgers, then it was greasy fried chicken, and if not that, there had to be cheesy pizza that cost a
Page 9 MyVision February 2013 Cover Feature

FATS FOOD:
Cover Feature

A Bio-Health Hazard?
By Mansoor Salim

fortune and almost has nothing as toppings. She said; Son, you know it is not healthy to eat fast food everyday, they cause so many diseases. You should learn to control yourself. Every day? It has been a week since we went to the drive-thru. Can I order, please, please?, Arslan was ready to throw tantrums. Okay, Ill prepare for you some fries at home, at-least they will be healthier that Golden Archs. Now Arslans mother was trying to find middle ground. No, but they just dont taste the same, you never let me order. It looked like Arslans father will have to deal with this young man, again.
Cover Feature MyVision February 2013 Page 10

Sounds Familiar?

This is the billions spent by the fast food industry at work. The advertising that is specially targeted towards kids, who in turn cajole and pester their parents into buying them junk food. To add to this, these outlets give away enticing tiny toys with each kids meal. For example, the fast-food giant McDonalds distributes more toys per year than Toys-R-Us, a world-famous toys store chain. To make sure they have returning customers, these companies add addictive enzymes into their foods that create the urges to come back and eat more. This has become a huge moneymaking scam in the West. If someone wants to buy naturally grown vegetables, it can set them back over five dollars. But, they can buy dollar meals at every corner. One popular junk food chain has over 30,000 outlets in six continents. As a result, the population in the West is growing obese everyday. At this rate, it seems that, in a few years, they will just explode and self-destruct. But before that happens, the insurance and pharmaceuticals industry also want a piece of this money pie. In the US, they have jacked up heath care costs so much that everyone needs to buy medical insurance to have access to medical care, even if they cannot afford it. The poorer they are, the more they rely on junk food to feed their families, because it is all they can afford. The more junk food they eat, the more sick they get. Which in turn means they have to have medical insurance to cover medical care expenses.

sodium glutamate (MSG), and artificial sweeteners that are all head-bangers. Depression: Nutrients like antioxidants, folate, and omega-3s, contribute to good mental health. These elements are absent from fast foods. The British Journal of Psychiatry has warned that people who eat junk food are highly likely to develop depression than people who dont. Fast food contains synthetic additives like preservatives, emulsifiers, thickeners, stabilizers, and flavor enhancers. These elements act as powerful stimulants to the body and therefore contribute to stress and mood disorders. Addiction: Due to high levels of sugar and fat, fast food causes blood sugar levels to spike and then crash, creating an addiction of the euphoric effects insulin surges cause from the processed ingredients.

Are You Still Loving It?

Bio-Health Hazard

Fast food typically contain high calories and high fat content. They are also very high in sodium and cholesterol. On top of that they have very little fibre, vitamins, and other nutrients that are necessary for body function and growth. Regular intake of fast food is known to cause Type-2 Diabetes, obesity, heart diseases, stroke, and cancer. Kids are known to suffer more because their condition worsens with age. Kids who regularly eat fast food have known to develop asthma, hypertension, and high cholesterol. Remember, you need to walk seven hours straight to burn off the calories you eat when you order a burger meal with fries and a drink. Some other relatively unknown effect of fast food are: Intense Headaches: Fast food can trigger migraine. Fast food can contain ingredients like nitrite,mono-

If you cannot stop yourself from going to a fast food joint, or you have a friend that dragged you to one, you can do well to heed the following advice when ordering: Dont be fooled by salads. In most fast food outlets, the salads are just as hazardous as burgers due to fatty dressings and fried chicken. Do not upsize. Regular sized servings are usually enough to fill the appetite. Be specially cautious about upsized fries and cold-drinks. If available, pre-check the nutritional information on each serving and order items with lower caloric values. Choose grilled cooked foods over fried foods. Skip the mayonnaise. If the option is available, choose fruit instead of fries. I am not sure if he was loving it or not, but Willard Scott, who was the first Ronald McDonald, was fired from his job because he became too fat.

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Cover Feature

Quran Quiz
Are you ready to test your Quranic knowledge? 1. 2. 3. 4. Where was the Quran revealed first? How many versus of sujood (prostration) are there in the Quran? Which chapter of the Quran starts with Bismillah? About whom has Allaah said in the Quran that his body is kept as an admonishing example for future generations to come? 5. In the Quran, the name of which companion of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is mentioned? 6. In the Quran, there is a Prophet who has been called by his mothers name. Which Prophet is that? 7. Who were the people with whom Allaah was pleased, and they were pleased with Him, as mentioned in the Quran? 8. Which is the longest chapter in the Quran? 9. Which is the shortest chapter in the Quran? 10. Which chapter of the Quran is to be recited in each rakah of salah (prayer)?

Answers below (no peeking). Answers to Quran Quiz: 1. Cave of Hira (Makkah) 2. Fourteen 3. at-Taubah 4. Firaun (Pharaoh) 5. Zaid bin Harith 6. Prophet Esa ibn Maryam (AS) 7. Sahaba (companions) of the Prophet (PBUH) 8. al-Baqarah 9. al-Kauthar 10. al-Fatihah Here is a humorous tidbit from the Fatwas (collection of religious rulings) of Sheikh Muhammad bin Saleh al-Uthaymeen: Question:
Sheikh, may Allaah reward you with Paradise, I see in my dreams as if I am sitting in your class. I have certain questions, so I ask you and you give me the answers. So whats the ruling with regards to those answers? Questioner laughs.

Reply:

I dont remember this. I dont remember this. I dont notice in my sleep that you are asking me anything! Sheikh laughs, then continues, Dont depend on this. If you listen to a tape, thats fine, but we dont give lessons to those who are sleeping! [Al-Baab al-Maftooh]

Quran Quiz Humor of the Scholars

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The Hijab Diaries

Going Back to School

By Gabrielle Deonath
and wanted to take no part in. This time, it somehow felt different. Over the summer, I had become friends with people who were in college. They seemed more in my headspace. They were thinking about their future and they were more mature in socialization skills; we just had much more in common than Id ever had with anyone in my own grade. I went from feeling very connected and confident to feeling very detached, alone, and insecure.

ll summer while I was wearing my hijab, I felt comfortable and confident. I would have conversations with coworkers or classmates about Islam or religion in general. I felt so happy and free to be myself. As much as I tried to analyse what people would think, for the most part, I thought I would be confident and have a different perspective, socially, this year. fter two months of being away, the first day of school came and went. I remember seeing some friends I hadnt seen all summer who were very supportive of my hijab. I remember my health teacher telling me how pretty I was (shes a female, dont freak out!) No one stared, no one asked any questions, no one seemed to care about my change. I was happy, but some part of me didnt feel completely comfortable either.

A A B

efore I started wearing my hijab in the beginning of this past summer, a thought that was always in the back of my mind was how people in school would react to the change Id made. How would acquaintances and friends treat me? Would the people I previously had problems with mock me?

also had what I would describe as paranoia. If someone was laughing with a friend and they were looking at me, I would assume they were mocking my hijab and/ or Islam. I somehow felt people were treating me differently, even though in actuality, everyone was treating me pretty much the same. I cried the first Friday I spent in school. I was overwhelmed by my feelings and I didnt have anyone to turn to. Being a practicing Muslim was new to my life, so it was hard for me to believe that I didnt need anyone else, except Allaah.

efore, I was always a loner. I just enjoyed being with my own thoughts, rather than getting caught up in high school drama that Id had enough of

fter I calmed down and a few adults and an old friend soothed my feelings, life began to change. I gained that confidence back, little by little. I realized that yes, I look different than I did before, but thats all that changed. I always had the morals of Islam in my heart; I just never outwardly showed it. I soon began to get into the grind of school, and the workload began to take

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over that empty time I had. started a club about religious awareness and tolerance, which kept me busy and gave me something to be passionate about that involved Islam. My idea for the club came to me this past school year when I was still deciding about whether to wear the hijab. I wanted a way to connect to others on this journey so I thought starting an MSA (Muslim Students Association) would be a good idea, but unfortunately, there arent many Muslim students in my school. Plus, those that are there, are interested in other things besides Islam. I, then, thought about a club about religious tolerance and acceptance. I believed this would be a great way to spread Islams message and squash the misconceptions that many Americans have about it.

Science for Kids

Make a Big Dry Ice Bubble

Have fun making a dry ice bubble that will grow and grow as it fills with fog. This experiment is a great one for adults to do with kids. Add water to the dry ice, cover it with a layer of soapy water and watch your bubble grow, how big will it get before it bursts? Give it a try and find out! What youll need: Water A large bowl with a lip around the top (a smaller bowl or cup will work too) A strip of material or cloth Soapy mixture for making bubbles (water and some dish washing liquid should do the trick) Dry ice - one piece for a cup, more for a bowl. Places where adults can buy dry ice include large grocery stores and ice cream stores. Safety first! Be careful with dry ice as it can cause skin damage if not used safely. Adults should handle dry ice with gloves and avoid directly breathing in the vapor. Instructions: Place your dry ice in the bowl and add some water (it should start looking like a spooky cauldron). Soak the material in your soapy mixture and run it around the lip of the bowl before dragging it across the top of the bowl to form a bubble layer over the dry ice. Stand back and watch your bubble grow! Whats happening? Dry ice is carbon dioxide (CO2) in its solid form. At temperatures above -56.4 C (-69.5 F), dry ice changes directly from a solid to a gas, without ever being a liquid. This process is called sublimation. When dry ice is put in water it accelerates the sublimation process, creating clouds of fog that fill up your dry ice bubble until the pressure becomes too much and the bubble explodes, spilling fog over the edge of the bowl. Dry ice is sometimes used as part of theater productions and performances to create a dense foggy effect. It is also used to preserve food, freeze lab samples and even to make ice cream! [Courtesy: http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/experiments/dryicebubble.html]

W G

eve had some really interesting conversations in the club. People want to learn about Islam and understand our religion. Were also able to see many of the similarities between the major religions. The turnout wavers meeting to meeting, which is expected with any new club, but for the most part, it has been an uplifting, encouraging experience. oing back to school has been a normal experience. Much of the anxiety Ive had stemmed from my own insecurities and paranoia. Its like going into school with a broken limb: in the beginning, its a big deal and everyone wants to help, but eventually, youre left on your own and people dont really care. If you are worried about what people are going to think, whether its your coworkers, or your classmates, dont let it hold you back. You never know when your last day will be. People are generally very open-minded and encouraging. This decision is for you and Allaah alone. Remember that Allaah is always watching over you and He never gives you more than you can handle. Gabrielle Deonath is sixteen-years old and is new to wearing a hijab. She is of Indian and Guyanese decent. She is a student in high school. She strives to learn about new things about Islam every day, and implement what she learns in her life as best as she can. She hopes her story can help other sisters who are in the spot she once was. [Courtesy: http://www.suhaibwebb.com/ummah/women/ hijab-niqab/the-hijab-diaries-going-back-to-school/]

The Hijab Diaries Science for Kids

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GetHooked!
By Yumna Arif

as this ever happened to you? You read a passage or two from a book, and you just cant stop yourself from finishing it. You take one sip from a drink, and helplessly gulp down the whole glass. You start reading a captivating story, and you just have to read the whole series. hy does that happen, by the way? One sip can convince you enough to drink a large glass of a certain drink. One passage and youre ready to go through the whole book, regardless of its thickness. And taste leads to yearning...

this, no one can get the real taste (sweetness) ofimaan(belief ), though he may have been someone who prays and fasts frequently. Today people keep relationships, and love only for some worldly reason but this will not provide them any benefit (on the Day of Judgement). The author of Fiqh-ul-Quloob, Sheikh Muhammad ibn Ibrahim at-Tuwaijri, goes on to describe the state of a person who has tasted imaan: And taste leads to yearning; so whoever tasted imaan, shall yearn for its completionand good deeds; and (he) finds pleasure in Allaahs worship, and branches of imaan begin to appear in his life, and his soul gets connected with the Noble Angels; so Allaah loves him, and everyone in the Heavens loves him, and Allaah puts acceptance for him in the land. You can test this on yourself or someone whom you know is on a high level of imaan: 1. Yearning to complete imaan: The person will go all out to increase his imaan, and enjoy the process, no matter how many hardships he has to go through. 2. More and moregood deeds: This is more of an automatic effect. The person begins to love good deeds, he finds out more about them, he tries his best to do as many as he can, in the best way possible. Remember, most good deeds are hard to do. But this person does not find them hard, because he has strong motivation imaan! 3. Finding pleasure in Allaahs worship: He truly finds peace and tranquility in salah and other forms of worship. It becomes the coolness of his eyes, just as it was for the Prophet (PBUH). 4. Branches of imaan appearin his life: Branches of a tree represent growth, health, fruit and benefit. Branches of imaan would mean the same; that his imaan begins to grow in all directions. It bears more fruit and benefits more people. 5. Connection with Noble Angels: His soul finds a connection with the life of Noble Angles (the most high-ranked ones). Their life is all about worship, obedience and tasbeeh (glorifying Allaah). They obey Allaah willingly. And so does he. 6. So (as a result of all the above), Allaah loves him speechless!

In other words, youll get hooked! And taste leads to yearning; so whoever tasted imaan (faith), shall yearn for its completion Imaan has a taste as well. Its sweet, I tell you. Prophet (PBUH) laid down three conditions for the one who wants to taste it.

he Prophet (PBUH) said: There are three qualities whosoever has them, may taste the sweetness of Faith: firstly one who loves Allaah and His Messenger (PBUH) above all else; secondly one who loves someone simply for the sake of Allaah, and thirdly, one who loathes return to disbelief after Allaah has rescued him from it, as he would loath being thrown into the Fire. [Sahih alBukhari and Sahih al-Muslim]

T S I

ay youve tasted it. And you loved it. You want more. You want all of it. Youre hooked! But theres one slight problem: you dont know how. Worry not, soldier! Allaahs Messenger (PBUH) has told us already: Whoever loves for Allaahs sake, hates for Allaahs sake, gives for Allaahs sake and withholds for Gods sake has completed his faith.[Abu Dawud]

bn Abbas (RA) said: Whoever loves for the sake of Allaah, and hates for the sake of Allaah, and befriends for the sake of Allaah and shows enmity for the sake of Allaah, would get Allaahs friendship. Without abiding by

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Get Hooked!

7. Everyone in the Heavens loves him: That includes all the angels that live in the seven Heavens. The Messenger of Allaah (PBUH) said: I see what you do not see, and hear what you do not hear. The Heaven makes a noise like groaning, and it has the right to (or it is no surprise), forthere is no space in it the width of four-fingers, but there is an angel there, placing his forehead in sujood (prostration) to Allaah. By Allaah, if you knew what I know, you would laugh little and weep much, you would not enjoy your relationships with women and you would go out in the street praying to Allaah. [Sunan al-Tirmidhi 2312] 8. Acceptance in the land: People love him. If not love, then they have the general likeness and acceptance for him. he last four points refer to this Hadith: The Prophet (PBUH) said, When Allaah loves a slave, He calls out Jibril and says: `I love so-and-so; so love him. Then Jibril loves him. After that Jibril announces to the inhabitants of heavens that Allaah loves so-and-so; so love him; and the inhabitants of the heavens (the angels) also love him and then make people on earth love him. [Sahih al-Bukhari, Sahih alMuslim] The author is the founder of The Bukhari Project and regularly blogs at http://ilookilisten.wordpress.com/.

Get Hooked!

MyVision February 2013

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Puzzle

Train Word Search Puzzle

Find the words about trains, listed below, in the word-search grid. Circle each letter one by one. Each letter of the train word search grid may be used in more than one word. When the word search puzzle is complete, read the remaining letters left to right, top to bottom, to learn an interesting fact about trains.
W A N R E T R E U H R C O I T L T D I E E T L H C O S B H I G H S P E E D O E S E G F T L T T H N A R S R P I R R A H U L L I T D A A U S L E A C E R E E E G P I C L E D I I N G A G R P S E H T K S H T C R O E A E R O S P D G O Y A E E N G I N E S F E C R Y L G R A Y T S S E V I T O N A R A I L C A I D R S T R

W W A W E

N M W A

C M R A W S R A N L G L S S E R E N E Y L E S E I D

Y M R A O A E A I C L R A O O

T W E M O N M H O C R A

O R

O O

A W L

Train Word List

CABOOSE COAL COMMUTER DIESEL DINING CAR ELECTRICAL ENGINEER ENGINES FREIGHT HEADLIGHT HIGH-SPEED LOCOMOTIVE MONORAIL PASSENGER RAILCAR RAILWAY SLEEPING CARS STEAM TRACKS WHISTLE

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Puzzle

Poetry Corner

Quran On One Side, Sunnah On The Other

Quran on one side of my heart Quran on one side of my heart Sunnah on the other Sunnah on the other I cant function without either My brain working with a rhythm Imaan pumping around my body Imaan rushing through my veins keeping me active and alive keeping me stable mind and body Quran on one side of my heart Sunnah on the other My heart functioning because of Deen Imaan present in the bloodstream Keeping me elated and serene
By Umm Hanifah

Face of Earth!
By Zoya Ahmad Notice them when they are sleeping Curtains drawn on the stage of sight Worries drowned in the realm of mind And vocals resting in the cave of quiet Notice them when they are awake Limbs moving on the body of world Worries piling on the desk of brain And words thrown with every move Notice them when they are praying Eyes lifted towards the roof of earth Thoughts bathing in divine rain And lips moving with gentle pain
Poetry Corner MyVision February 2013 Page 18

Notice them when they are sinning Features vanishing from the sheet of face Thoughts struck by blind lightening And tongue shouting without reason Notice people on the face of earth Playing the game of life Tensed by its higher levels Still fighting and hoping to strive

Dua for All Goodness

O Allaah, make me healthy in my body. O Allaah, preserve for me my hearing. O Allaah, preserve for me my sight. There is none worthy of worship but You. O Allaah , I seek refuge in You from disbelief and poverty and I seek refuge in You from the punishment of the grave. There is none worthy of worship but You. [Abu Dawud , Ahmad]